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One-Hand Puck Protection

Shield the puck with your body and control it with one hand.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Carry the puck on the side away from your partner.

Core: Both hands. Beat your own best run without losing the puck.

Ages
14 and up
Time
12 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Stick, ball or puck, partner
Level · skill
Advanced · Stickhandling

The steps

How it works

  1. Carry the puck on the side away from your partner.
  2. Use your free arm and body to hold them off.
  3. Keep moving your feet in a circle.
  4. Go for 15 seconds; do 6 rounds each.

Coaching point

Body between them and the puck.

Safety: Only with a coach watching and a partner of similar size: body position and light touch only, no checking and no pushing from behind.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Puck dance: stickhandle to a song and freeze when it pauses. A partner can pause the music, and everyone keeps playing.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (strong hand), Core (both hands), More (eyes up while a partner shows you a number). Beat your own best run without losing the puck.

Story

You are a magician with the puck on an invisible string.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best run without losing the puck. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

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